Susan Pawlak-Seaman: Growing concerns about Men Behaving Badly

What do a Hollywood mogul, an NFL quarterback and a D.C. pol have in common?

They’re the latest entries in my register of “Men Behaving Badly.”

These three guys — Harvey Weinstein, Cam Newton and Cong. Tim Murphy — proved without a doubt last week they are more than deserving. Here’s why:

Weinstein, 65, a powerhouse in LaLa Land, is co-founder of the Miramax company which is behind big name films including “Pulp Fiction” and “Shakespeare in Love.”

On Thursday, the New York Times reported that he had sexually harassed women, especially young actresses, for more than three decades. The Times also said that over the years, he’d paid off a bunch of victims so they’d keep his dirty little secret.

Now that it’s out, Weinstein is on indefinite leave from his company and apparently undergoing some form of therapy. In a statement, he “explained” his actions by saying he came of age in the 1960s and 70s when "all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different."

Sorry, Harvey, I don’t buy it. It’s never been OK to sexually harass women. And it never will be.

Then there’s Newton, the star QB of the Carolina Panthers, who was asked a perfectly intelligent question by a sports reporter who just happens to be a woman. It dealt with the routes one of his receivers ran.

Word is the reporter told Newton about her concerns later that night, thinking he might want to apologize. But he didn’t. Not until the next day after he’d been cut by sponsor Dannon Oikos yogurt.

For those of us who remember all too well when female journalists were barred from locker rooms, Newton’s remarks were an unpleasant blast from the past.

And to think we thought we’d moved on … Silly us.

Which brings me to Murphy, a Pennsylvania Republican. I really didn’t know anything about him until a story broke that he’d texted his mistress urging her to have an abortion, when they both thought she was pregnant. (She wasn’t.)

Thing is, Murphy has been one of the most vocal — and sanctimonious — anti-abortion voices in the House of Representatives. As a member of the House Pro-Life Caucus, he's voted to place more restrictions on a woman’s access to abortion.

Clearly he doesn’t practice what he preaches. The good news is, he’s paying for his hypocrisy.

Murphy first said he wouldn’t run for re-election when his term ends next year. But with pressure mounting, he'll resign Oct. 21. (I'm guessing a not-so-gentle push from GOP leadership changed his mind.)

So there you have 'em, the most recent additions to my list of “Men Behaving Badly.”

Sad part is, I can just about guarantee the ranks will continue to grow.

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